Hengduan flasks with a side of terror

[silence882]

I got some flasks from Hengduan at the Paph Forum today! I pre-ordered Paph. emersonii, Paph. barbigerum var. vejvarutianum, and Phrag. humboldtii. I then couldn't resist the temptation of a 6-plant flask of Paph. tigrinum. That is where the terror comes in - it was quite expensive ($150) and tigrinums are notorious for being difficult from flask. I am not sure this is the best decision I've ever made...

Clockwise from top left - Phrag. humboldtii, Paph. tigrinum, Paph. emersonii (2 pots), Paph. barbigerum var. vejvarutianum:


Wish me luck, I will need it!

--Stephen

 

[SlipperFan]

Yes, good luck. The plants look nice and healthy!

 

[Scott Ware]

Your compots look great. Indeed, Paph. tigrinum has a reputation for looking great in the flask and making an expedited departure for the afterlife shortly after deflasking. I believe Holger is the one who developed the multi-phase flasking process for Paph. tigrinum that results in a much greater survival rate once out of the flask.

 

[Ozpaph]

good luck

 

[eggshells]

Best of luck.

 

[abax]

On the other hand, the tigers. might do quite well for you. Stranger things
have happened. All the plants look very healthy...good start.

 

[papheteer]

Great looking seedlings! I wish you the best of luck!!

 

[Trithor]

Stephen, that is a great selection of flasks/plants to have bought. I think that if the tiger flask was cheaper, you would not have felt terrified at all. The reality is the plants look great and the tiger seedlings have a high number of leaf pairs already. I am sure you are up to the challenge. Good luck, I for one am looking forward to the progress reports (positive progress I hope!)

 

[John M]

They do look nice. Plus, the tigrinums couldn't look better; so, you are off to a good start. Good luck!

 

[Linus_Cello]

Look forward to seeing these blooming plants at the next PF.

 

[cnycharles]

There is a fungicide called pageant that helps many plant seedlings push out new roots and survive transplant much better. See if you can find some, could help all orchid transplanting from flask


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[Justin]

looking good! keep us posted.

 

[Paphman910]

Nice compots! Tigrinums are difficult to establish from flask due to basal rot and difficult time producing roots! Lost most of my tigrinums from flask.

 

[Bjorn]

Nice compots! Tigrinums are difficult to establish from flask due to basal rot and difficult time producing roots! Lost most of my tigrinums from flask.

So have I, BUT those from Hengduan (I got a flask in October) seem much better!

 

[silence882]

Thanks for all the good wishes! I will be sure to post an update in a few months. Unless of course I can't see through all the tears...

Your compots look great. Indeed, Paph. tigrinum has a reputation for looking great in the flask and making an expedited departure for the afterlife shortly after deflasking. I believe Holger is the one who developed the multi-phase flasking process for Paph. tigrinum that results in a much greater survival rate once out of the flask.

Holger told me that he's perfected the multi-flask process to produce the seedlings, but is still working to find the best method to grow them out of flask. These seedlings look very healthy with robust leaves.

Look forward to seeing these blooming plants at the next PF.

I think you might mean 7 PFs from now...

--Stephen

 

[silence882]

6 Month Update! Overall I am very happy with the progress of the compots.

The tigrinum compot is doing well, with 5 out of 6 plants growing well. I fear the 6th is on death's door but it has looked unhealthy from the very beginning. Here they are in a 3.5" pot:


The vejvarutianum compot isn't doing nearly so well with greater than 50% mortality so far. The remaining seedlings seem to be slowly coming around. Here they are in a 5.5" pot:


The emersonii compots are in good shape. The seedlings are definitely growing. I've just sold the second compot to clear some space. Here they are in 5.5" pots:



The humboldtii compot is doing well. I've had very good root growth although vegetative growth has been slowish. The seedlings put out some new leaves then almost all of the flask leaves died back. Growth rate seems to be picking up though. Here is the compot as I repotted it today in a 5.5" pot:



--Stephen

 

[abax]

Hey Stephen, I think you're doing GREAT! Strange, isn't it, that the ones
that are the most scary are doing well and the ones we don't worry about
dump on us? I think you're very brave.

 

[NYEric]

Good luck. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Justin]

great job on the tigrinum! what is your secret?

 

[Trithor]

They are looking great! (I am very scared of coco husk, I find it works GREAT for a short while and then poisons the plants. I find it to be fantastic in the short term, but would be very wary of it after 6 months)
I am in awe of your success, and very very happy for you!